Christians And Forgiveness

Rev. Richard P. Smith Colossians 3:13-14 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. No one questions that forgiving others is a principal virtue …

Keeping The Faith About Acts Of Love

                                        Rev. Richard Smith John 15:12,14, 17 Words Of JesusMy command is this: Love each other as I have loved you…You are my friends if you do what I command…This is my command: Love each other. My guess is that you know the name Wendell Berry. He’s a writer, poet, and activist who has written …

How God Works

Rev. Richard Smith Psalm 9:1-2I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High! A consistent theme throughout the Bible is the truth that God is at work …

The World God Wants

Rev. Richard Smith Revelation 21:21 ‘I saw a new heaven and a new earth…’ You may have heard the story of the beginnings of Disney World when Roy and Walt Disney in 1965 bought 27,000 acres of undeveloped, seemingly worthless land south of Orlando, Florida.  After the land purchases, the Disneys announced plans to open …

On Dealing With Depression

Rev. Richard Smith Psalm 91:2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. I’m  sure you read or heard the sad news this past Sunday that Cheslie Kryst, the 2019 winner of the Miss USA pageant, died of suicide at age 30.  According to the …

When We Make Key Decisions

Rev. Richard Smith Philippians 4:6 Words of PaulDo not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Each of us sooner or later must make key decisions in life.  These can be personal, professional, relational, or moral.  When we find ourselves needing to make …

The Words We Speak

Rev. Richard Smith  Proverbs 12:18 and 15:14Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (NRSV)Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim. (Message)===================================================================== I’ve said it; you’ve said it; we’ve all heard it…Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.Well, that’s a …

To Whom Much Is Given

Rev. Richard Smith Luke 12:48 Words of Jesus ‘From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.’           As I noted in my sharing on discipleship on January 10, Jesus never apologies for placing before us the demands …

On Understanding Prayer

Rev. Richard Smith Psalm 138:3 On the day I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with inner strength. The psalmist says, I called you, you answered me.  I believe, as you do, in the importance and power of prayer!  Let me offer some insights on this essential spiritual discipline. Prayer Is Our Primary Connection …